The Religion (and Politics) of Hypocrisy

There are two subjects that grab 75% of my attention when on line… politics and religion. I take special critical notation of the intermingling of the two, especially when it relates to how radical fundamentalist Christians have pronounced their ownership of the Republican Party and what that ownership has done to destroy the party to some extent.

One key focus for me has been the hypocritical aspect of how right wing America uses its “Christian Nation” self-identification, while endorsing things Christ would have NOTHING, whatsoever, to do with (if you actually read and understand His words… they are red in many Bibles… just a hint).

I had an argument with my dad a few years ago, in which he kept suggesting that the war we find ourselves in is really Islam against Christianity… and at the time, I couldn’t believe anyone in the administration would ever admit it out loud, whether true or not.

But everyone knows that the rule of thumb for judging where the administration’s ideology sets is by listening to any of the reTHUGilcan pundits, such as Coulter, Hannity, O’Reilley, Limbaugh, Savage, etc) and you realize that race and religious attacks are, indeed, their weapon of choice. Just listen and realize how the meme changed from Islam being a religion of peace (Bush’s earliest speeches) to everything being “radical Islamic fascism”, etc. They have slowly brainwashed much of America (with the help of the religious nutcases on “our” side) that this is the case.

However, the “Men of God” (Christian Leaders) that sidle up to the ReTHUGs preach and teach the very same hatred and idiotic dominance type things, with the only exception, they know that inciting violence is illegal. They avoid that, but their bullshit is just as idiotic and brain numbing as the “other side” (Islam).

Glenn Greenwaldaddresses the latest endorsement for McCain, the “Man-of-God” (Mr “Snapper”, himself), The Reverend, Pastor, Doctor, Monsignor John Hagee… the Rapture Man. He compares the attacks against Obama for the endorsement Mr Farrakhan gave him (unrequested) and the radicalness of Farrakhan’s brand of Islam and how the right (McCain) can embrace Hagee (even though he, too, is a radical “crazy”). For Hagee truly is a nutcase:

TG: If you use the Bible as the basis for policy, is there any room for compromise? And if you use the bible as the basis for policy, should Muslims use the Koran as the basis for their policy, and then again, what possible basis is there for compromise at that point?JH: There is really no room for compromise between radical Islam —

TG: I’m not talking about radical Islam. I’m just talking about Islam in general. JH: Well Islam in general — those who live by the Koran have a scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews.

* God caused Hurricane Katrina to wipe out New Orleans because it had a gay pride parade the week before and was filled with sexual sin. From the same interview:

JH: All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it would was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other gay pride parades.

So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the Day of Judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.

* The End Times — Rapture — is imminent and the U.S. Government must do what it can to hasten it, which at minimum requires: (a) a war with Iran and (b) undying, absolute support for a unified Israel, including all Occupied Territories (hence, Joe Lieberman’s love affair with them). From Christian Palestinian Daoud Kuttab in The New York Times (h/t PZ Meyers):

A small minority of evangelical Christians have entered the Middle East political arena with some of the most un-Christian statements I have ever heard. . . . [Rev.] Hagee, a popular televangelist who leads the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, ratcheted up his rhetoric this year with the publication of his book, “Jerusalem Countdown,” in which he argues that a confrontation with Iran is a necessary precondition for Armageddon (which will mean the death of most Jews, in his eyes) and the Second Coming of Christ. In the best-selling book, Hagee insists that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God’s plan for both Israel and the West.

Do you rednecks understand what this guy is saying? In the name of the Christ?

Can you honestly believe that he is “better” than any radical Islamic Emam? How so? Bomb from airplanes are far worse than one strapped to a single person… maybe not as personal, but far more efficient. And gutless. And the height of hypocrisy.

Watching the media’s treatment of Farrakhan and Hagee, is it possible to imagine a more transparent, and grotesque, double standard? In the framework of the Russert-led establishment press, white evangelical Christians are, by definition, entitled to great respect no matter how radical, extreme and hateful their professed views are. These are, after all, religious Christians — People of Faith — and, as such, it is wrong, even bigoted, to suggest that they should be repudiated. There is nothing ever radical, hateful or dangerous about the views of white evangelical Christians like Hagee.

Of course Farrakhan is a nutcase. But he is virtually the same as the “Men of God” who flirt with the right. Worse, because they are protected by the media and the THUG party.

How come Tim Russert — in all the times he sits and chats with Lieberman, McCain and various high Bush officials — never reads all of the inflammatory, disgusting, crazed “Rapture-is-Coming/ All-Jews-will-Burn/ Kill-All-Muslims/ Hurricanes-are-Punishment-against-Gays” pronouncements from John Hagee and James Dobson and Pat Robertson and demand that John McCain and George Bush and Joe Lieberman “denounce” those views and “reject” their support? What’s the difference, exactly?

Glenn, the difference is obvious. Big Media is framing the election. And we are the dupes.

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2 thoughts on “The Religion (and Politics) of Hypocrisy”

Just came aross your blog and love it. I’ve researched the Christian Right for years and have come to a conclusion: labeling their (cult) leaders as crazies may be apropos, but it won’t get them mad enough to respond. Calling them stupid, however, sometimes gets them mad enough to talk back, appealing to some sense of reason. For them, however, THIS IS A BAD MISTAKE for they can never sound completely reasonable. We’re dealing with people who think that Reason is the enemy. To practice reason would be falling into Satan’s power. Just think of the words emblazened on a plaque at the Creation Museum: “Don’t think. Believe.” The truly sad thing is that it took $27 million to erect such drivel. Last time I checked, $27 million could feed the entire population of Sierra Leone (now officially the world’s poorest nation) for quite a long while.

People like Hagee also LOVE to hate people: there’s so much more money in it than compassion for your fellow man. Many “Christionists” (as Andrew Sullivan calls them) aren’t capable of true compassion – they pre-judge people before they give them anything. True compassion is unqualified and anonymous.

That is one of the nicest comments I have received on this redneck rant blog. I appreciate it very much.

Not just the comment, but the understanding of my purpose and agreement with my tactic. The truth is that I come from a very religious background, where reason was forced out. One could never ask the real questions about the contradictions of the Bible or theologies (for they all differ substantially). Just believe!

I have a bit more insight into the original languages of the Bible and understand that many translations are purposefully translated in this manner simply to perpetuate a particular theology that was inherited from Manicheism (sp) and other ancient beliefs (just understanding the near identical stories of Horus and Jesus should make one think). The Bible has meanings that we never hear about from the likes of Snapper Hagee and Pat Robertson, etc. Much more loving and encompassing without the revenge and killer God they tout.

Anti-Semitic Question?

Here is something I wish that I knew:
What does it mean when you say you're a Jew?
Is it your race, or perhaps your religion?
It seems that of each, you have just a smidgen.
Whoever pursues a good definition
Must refer to a complex, or perhaps a condition.

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